Mass in the back as manifestation of neurofibromatosis type 2

Background: A 13-year-old boy was referred for MR imaging of the thoracolumbar spine to further differentiate a spindle shaped hyporeflective soft tissue mass in the back seen on ultrasonography (not shown) most characteristic for a lipoma. After a closer look at the medical history we learn that the boy is known since the age of 7 with a problem of paresis with atrophy of the left arm. An earlier MR examination of the thoracic outlet showed bilateral soft tissue masses interpreted as diffuse thickening of the plexus brachialis nerves, thus explaining the patient’s complaints, without however a clear etiology being withheld. One year ago a new small mass was excised from the boy’s lip. Anatomopathological analysis revealed an interesting diagnosis: submucosal neurofibroma. Now putting these at first apparently independent events in a greater context, we decided to also realize a MR examination of the brain.